Denture construction



April 2, 196 L. HIRSCHHORN DENTURE CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 31, 1960 rate This invention relates generally to the field of restorative dentistry, and more particularly to an improved dental construction permitting the capping of teeth under special situations in a manner which has heretofore been impossible in the prior art.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved dental capping construction which may be used in conjunction with adjacent or abutment teeth, the principal axes of which are disposed in non-parallel relation without the necessity of devitalizing either or any of the teeth.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved dental construction of the class described in which one or more pairs of adjacent capping members are interconnected in a manner which permits limited relative pivotal and rocking movement prior to engagement with corresponding adjacent teeth, and in which each of the caps may be anchored to prevent relative movement after installation within the mouth of the user.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of structure of the class described and possessed of the above advantages which may be manufactured and fitted using techniques known and existing in the prosthetic denture art, and which is adaptable for use in conjunction with a wide variety of oral conditions.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the inventive structure permits installation either on adjacent normal teeth or similar construction may be used to support a prosthetic tooth or teeth adjacent a normal one.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view partially broken away to show detail, showing an embodiment of the invention in installed condition, and locked to prevent relative movement of the cap members after such installation.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 1, and illustrating the immobility of adjoining linked cap members after installation.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly broken away in section, corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 2, but showing an alternate form of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 55 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 66 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 77 in FIGURE 6.

Before entering into a detailed consideration of the inventive structure. reference is made to FIGURE 1 in the drawing, which illustrates a common situation encountered by dentists where it is desired to cap a plurality of adjoining teeth. As indicated on this figure. a first tooth It} is disposed with its principal axis leftwardly inclined, while second and third teeth 11 and 12 are disposed with the principal axis thereof substantially vertical.

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As is well known in the art, in preparing the teeth for the reception of capping members, the enamel is completely removed along with a portion of the dentine to form a prepared stump upon which the capping member is cemented. Reference character 16 indicates the normal limit of cutting in the formation of the stump, and it is normally desirable to avoid cutting through the dentine into the pulp which results in devitalizing the tooth. Where all of the teeth involved are in healthy condition, but are otherwise unattractive, individual capping members may be applied to the teeth without diificulty. Often, for reasons of mechanical strength, it is necessary that a group of capping members be integrated in such manner that each will reinforce the roots of the other teeth. In order that the integrated capping members may be accurately fitted, it is ordinarily necessary that the stumps be prepared to have their principal axes disposed substantially parallel, since otherwise the integrated capping members cannot he slid into position. Where such a technique is resorted to in a condition such as that represented by FIGURE 1, it will be necessary to cut into the pulp of the tooth at portions indicated by reference characters 17 and 18. Such a procedure necessarily devitalizes the tooth, and also weakens the mechanical strength of the same after the integrated capping members have been applied. The only other solution in the prior art is to make a separate capping member for the tooth Ill, but where the tooth 11 requires mechanical support, it is best to support the tooth from both of the replacement abutment teeth. The solution, therefore, lies in the provision of integrated capping members, in which at least one of the same is capable of limited movement with respect to the others prior to and during installation of the same in position, and which may be locked in position after installation to give the same mechanical strength as a fully integrated and rigid group of capping members, and replacement teeth.

Referring to FIGURE 1 in the drawing, there are shown the same teeth 10, l]. and 12 after preparation for reception of capping members not as indicated by reference character 16 but in which the stump is prepared along the natural axis of the tooth resulting in a non-parallel position. In this manner, the vitality of none of the teeth is affected, but a normally integrated group of capping members cannot be placed upon the same owing to the non-parallel condition of at least one of the teeth.

In accordance with the invention, three stump portions on teeth 10, 11 and 12 are prepared in the normal manner in which the enamel and part of the dentine is removed to a point slightly below the gum or gingiva. The appliance, generally indicated by reference character 25, comprises a plurality of cap members 26, 27 and 28, the cap members 27 and 28 having a conventional soldered joint 29 (see FIGURE 2), while the cap members 26 and 27 are interconnected through linking means 30'. The cap members 26-28 are of metallic construction including an outer shell 31 upon which porcelain or other suitablematerials (not shown) may be bonded thereto, as well as a filler 32 which brings the internal configuration of the cavity 33 to that of the respective stump portion.

Extending into the outer surface 35 of the cap 26 and the outer surface 36 of the cap 27 are a pair of recesses or cavities 37 and 38 respectively, the same being disposed entirely witbin the filler material 32 of each tooth (see FIGURE 3).

The linking means 30, during installation, to be effective, must permit a limited degree of what may be termed a rocking movement in which one of the cap members may move about an axis running from the labial to the lingual surfaces, and in addition, relative movement about a substantially vertically disposed axis. Apart from the above rocking motion, a limited amount of rotation must be permissible about a substantially horizontally disbers. Owing to the configuration of the individual capping members, such rotation may be accompanied by a slight amount of axial movement along thehorizontal axis. It is to be stressed that such movement must occur in a relatively minor degree, sinceotherwise the material benefits of linking the adjacent cap members is lost.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, there is shown 'a linking means contemplated by the present invention which fulfills all of the above requirements. It includes a box or socket-forming member 41, an oval-shaped socketengaging member 42, a shaft member 43 rigidly interconnected with the socket-engaging member 42 and a plate member 44 maintained in splined relation upon the shaft member 43.

The socket-forming member 41 is preferably formed from suitable precious metal, as for example platinum, gold, and/or high temperature alloys of the same, and includes an upper wall 47, a lower wall 48, a rear wall 49, side walls 50 and 51, as well as a front wall 52. The front wall 52 forms an orifice 53 or formation, through which the shaft member 43 may extend.

The socket-engaging member 42 is bounded by an outer peripheral surface 56, a forward beveled surface 57 and a rearward beveled surface 58. As may be seen on FIGURE 2, the 'beveled surfaces permit a limited rocking motion somewhat resembling that obtained from a ball joint, as well as limited rotational motion which is arrested by contact of the outer peripheral surface 56 with the side walls 50 and S1. The shaft member 43 is formed integrally with the socket-engaging member 42, and extends through the orifice 53. The shaft member includes a cylindrical portion 60' as well as upper and lower key members 61 and 62, respectively. The plate 44 is slidably disposed upon the shaft member 43 which is headed over to retain the same in position, and is provided with a planar inner surface 65 as well as a beveled outer surface 66. A substantially centrally disposed orifice 67 is shaped to the cross section of the keyed shaft member 43, so that the plate 44 is capable of limited splined movement therealong.

The linking'structure is assembled within the integrated capping members as shown in FIGURE 2 which permits the limited movement between the capping members, 26 and 27 described hereinabove. In this condition, the appliance 25 may he slipped onto the teeth 10, 11 and 12 without difiiculty despite theexistence of a non-parallel condition among the teeth.

Once the device 25 is so engaged, complete immobility is obtained by the engagement of a recessed head screw 70 which penetrates both the socket-forming member 41 and the socket-engaging member 42 to prevent relative movement therebetween. The position of the screw 70 will normally be determined when the appliance 25 is fitted upon a plaster cast of the mouth of the wearer, at which time the continuous bore through the members will be drilled and tapped. At the time of installing the appliance 25 within the mouth of the wearer, the screw 70 may be backed off a sufircient amount to disengage the socketengaging member 42, and when the appliance is properly seated the tapped bore in the socket-engaging member will automatically be aligned with that in the socketforming member 41, at which time the screw may be conveniently tightened. As seen in FIGURE 1, the screw 70 preferably enters the appliance from thelingual surface 71 of the capping member 27, so as to be concealed from view when the appliance is worn.' The recessed socket 73 is preferably of a triangular cross section, as compared with conventional hex-type configuration for additional strength. 7 Normally, the diameter of the threaded portion of the screw will be only .08 inch.

' Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, the structure differs from that of the principal embodiment largely in simplification and increased fiexibib.

ity of installation. It is particularly suitable for use in those locations where the installation of the appliance requires longitudinal as well as rotational or pivotal movement of the connecting link. Referring to FIGURES 4-7, inclusive, the second embodiment includes a socketforming element 76, a rotary plate element '77, and an elongated tongue element 78.

The socket-forming element 76 is preferably formed from precious metal as first and second shaped members 80 and 81, respectively. These are interconnected during assembly by soldering along an edge 82 in well known manner. Once integrated, the element 76* includes a cylindrical recess portion 83 defined by a cylindrical wall 84 and a generally planar end wall 85. Integral with the cylindrical wall 84 is a groove-forming portion 86 having a forwardly-facing opening 87.

The rotary plate element 77 is supported within the groove-forming portion 86, and is bounded by a peripheral edge 90, an inner surface 91 and an outer surface 92. Extending between the surfaces 91 and 92 is an elongated slot 93, best seen in FIGURE 5 of the drawmg.

The elongated tongue element 78 is bounded by a peripheral surface 96, as well as planar surfaces 96' and 97 to include a bulbous inner end 98 and an outer end 99 (see FIGURE 6). As best seen in FIGURE 4, the outer end 99 is anchored in fixed relationship with respect to a first tooth cap 190, while the inner end 98 extends through of the bulbous inner end 98 from the socket-engaging member 42 of the first embodiment, considerable lateral extension is possible between the adjacent tooth-capping members, and the presence of the plate element 77 in engagement with the socket-forming element 76 permits any desired degree of axial rotation along the tongue element 78. Normally, the slot 93' will be of greater height than the width of the tongue element, so that a certain degree of pivoting motion about an axis through the screw is possible, as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in denture construction in which a dental problem of long standing has been substantially solved. By the use of the inventive structure, it is possible to cap a plurality of teeth disposed in nonpanailel relation with an integrated appliance, which, when installed, may be employed to render support as in fixed bridge construction, and which may be utilized without the necessity of devitalizing any of the teeth being capped. The structure and method of applying the same are suitable for use over a wide variety of oral conditions, and may be employed by the practicing dentist without the necessity of special equipment.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a denture construction including a pair of moviably linked capping members, improved linking means comprising: a socket-forming member embedded in one of said capping members and having a generally rectangularly-shaped recess therein, a substantially oval-shaped shooket-engaging member capable oflimited pivotal and rotational motion within said socket, a keyed shaft extending outwardly of said recess and interconneotedwith said socket-engaging member at one end thereof, a plate member fixed to the opposite end of said keyed shaft in splined relation therewith, and secured to the other of said capping members; and means selectively engaging said linking means and one of said capping members for rigidly fixing the relative relation of said pair of capping members after positioning the same upon the prepared stumps of adjacent teeth.

2. In a denture construction including a pair of movably linked capping members, improved linking means comprising: a socket-forming member embedded in one of said capping members and having a generally rectangularly shaped recess therein, a substantially oval-shaped socket-engaging member capable of limited pivotal and rotational motion within said socket, a keyed shaft extending outwardly of said recess and interconnected with said socket-engaging member at one end thereof, a plate member fixed to the opposite end of said keyed shaft in splined relation therewith, and secured to the other of said capping members; and threaded means penetrating said socket-forming member and said socket-engaging member for rigidly fixing the relative relation of said pair of capping members after positioning the same upon the prepared stumps of adjacent teeth.

3. In a denture construction including a .pair of movably linked capping members, improved linking means comprising: a socket-forming element in one of said capping members and having a generally cylindrical recess therein, said element having an annular grooveforming portion thereon; a circular planar plate element engaged for rotation within said groove-forming portion, said plate element having an elongated slot therein, and an elongated tongue element having first and second end portions, said first end portion extending through said slot and into said cylindrical recess, said second portion being anchored to the other of said capping members, and threaded screw means penetrating said socket-forming element :and said tongue element for preventing relative rotational movement therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,008,028 Gollobin et al. Nov. 7, 1911 1,649,905 Lasky Nov. 22, 1927 1,749,493 Lasky Mar. 4-, 1930 2,705,366 Van Dyk Apr. 5, 1955 

1. IN A DENTURE CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF MOVABLY LINKED CAPPING MEMBERS, IMPROVED LINKING MEANS COMPRISING: A SOCKET-FORMING MEMBER EMBEDDED IN ONE OF SAID CAPPING MEMBERS AND HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULARLY-SHAPED RECESS THEREIN, A SUBSTANTIALLY OVAL-SHAPED SOCKET-ENGAGING MEMBER CAPABLE OF LIMITED PIVOTAL AND ROTATIONAL MOTION WITHIN SAID SOCKET, A KEYED SHAFT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID RECESS AND INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID SOCKET-ENGAGING MEMBER AT ONE END THEREOF, A PLATE MEMBER FIXED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID KEYED SHAFT IN SPLINED RELATION THEREWITH, AND SECURED TO THE OTHER OF SAID CAPPING MEMBERS; AND MEANS SELECTIVELY ENGAGING 